Flying-machine.



J. BROWN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0GT.6, 1910.

1,034,578, Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fi Zinesses [220672 Z02:

Julius Brown,

3 leis c/fliorrze J. BROWN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.6, 1910.

' Patented Aug.-6, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

By his cflliorney,

. [22 0672 Z02" Julius Bro Mil,

J. BROWN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED 0OT.6, 1910.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

, [nae/2Z0): Julius Brown, ,Byfi ejiiarne m Wz'iizesses fiww- K J. BROWN.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OGT,6, 1910.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i/iizzesses; fizz/e22 Z02":

27h ditocigjlf ,Birawn,

I I Q J. BROWN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001e, 1910.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

Julius Brown,

UNITED STATES JULIUS BROWN, OF PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed October 6, 1910.- Serial No. 585,578.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS BROWN, a subject of the'Emperor of Germany, residing in Peekskill, in the county of WVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide in an airship of the character generally known as heavier than air machines, that operate on the principle of aeroplanes, an arrangement of planes or wingmembers on eachside that are shiftable up and down on axes extending longitudinally, and which can be shifted in opposite directions, whereby to control the steering of the vessel to one side or to the other in its forward movement. I

A further object is to provide planes to the rear of the wing members that are shiftable relative to the wingsto vary 'their angle therewith, and which planes are shifted simultaneously with the wing members.

Another object of the invention is to provide an additional surface or plane member, located above the said wings and above the intermediate portion of the airship, acting somewhat on the principle of the biplane and which member is preferably adjustable relative to the wing members, whereby to control the upward or downward advance movement of the vessel.

In the accompanying drawingsrrepresenting embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan View.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 1 is a verti-v cal section on the line 1- 4c of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a front view showing the position of the wings when shifted to steer the craft to one side, one wing being elevated and the other depressed. Fig. 6 shows the relation of the depressed wing with its rear exten sion, and Fig. 7 shows the relation of the elevated wing with its rear extension. Fig. 8 is a section on the line=8- 8. of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a partial plan view showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 10 isa side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9. Fig.

11 is a front elevation as seen on the line 11 .of Fig.,9. Fig.v 12 shows enlarged the sup porting means for the top plane. Fig. 13 is a plan view showing another form of 16 is a verticalsection on the line 1616,

shown in Fig. 1 1. I

The airship is shown as provided with a body framedenoted generally by 1 that serves to support the propelling means, such as a bladed propeller 3, that may be operated from a. suitable motor 4:; the propeller being shown at the front. On the body frame are pivotally mounted two wing members, one on each side, that are pivoted on axes extending longitudinally and which axes are preferably separated, and located on opposite sides of the frame or car portion. Two wing members, 5-and 6 are shown that swing on longitudinal axes and on the frame. Means are provided for swinging the wing members on these axes from the frame, and which will cause them to move in opposite directions, one being elevated as the other is depressed, from the normal position, in which they make an equal angle with the frame. To the rear of these wings are arranged planes or extensions 9 and 10, that are preferably continuations of these wings, and are arranged to swing on a transverse axis that is preferably the rear edge of the .wing. These extensions are shown as arranged to be swung by the said shifting of the wings, whereby their angle with the wing is changed from one side to the other, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7.

At the top a planemember is provided,-

located a short distance above the frame of the car, and extending laterally to cover preferably a portion only of the wings, but located above very little if any of the extensions." This top plane 14 may be provided, if desired with another top plane 13, just above it, as shown in Fig. 4:. One or bothof these planes are supported from the frame, and swung on a horizontal transverse axis; and controlling means are pro.,

vided on the car to shift these planes to vary their angle of incidence with the air. The body frame is shown as composed of side portions 15 and 16 that are secured to a head 17, at the front, and diverge rearward, being connected by cross bars 18 at several places. This constitutes the floor member proper of the car,'onwhich a seat 19 may be provided for the operator. At the rear, wheels 20 and 21 are provided at the extremities of the side members. A pair of wheels or truck 22 is shown at the front swinging on ahead 2-3 for steering the craft when it runs along the ground at the start of the flight. A short distance above the frame members 16 and 17 are portions 24 and 25, parallel to the said members and connected at their front while at the rear 1s a cross bar 26, and vertical posts 27' and 28.

the bar 30 and the longitudinal. bar 25, forming a plane ,while on the opposite side a plane 36 is formed by suitable material stretched between the bar 31 and the longitudinal bar 24. These planes it will be observed are inclined to the vertical, and since the lower bars of. the plane diverge rearwardly, the planes will tend to engage the air in the forward movement of the ship and move planes form practically a downward continuation of the wings and will greatly assist in sustaining the car, by'tending to re tain the air under the wings. This is assisted by the particular shape of the wings. One side of the wing 5 is formed by the bar 31 and the rear portion of the wing is formed by a lateral bar 37 substantially at right angles to the bar 31.- A curved bar 38 extends from the outer end of the bar 37 to a the front end of the bar 31, substantially in the form of a quadrant. These three members form the support for the fabric of this plane 5, that is somewhat quadrant shaped. This plane is preferably dished or made concave on its lower face. A straight reinforcing strut 39 extends between the extremities of the bars 31' and 37, and a bar 40 is curved upwardly in a higher plane than the-said strut 39 between its extremities and supported bystruts 41, in this curved manner by the said bar 40, meeting and joining the ends of the strut 39. While this curvature is shown in Fig. 1, the said figure shows the frame-wo k without the planes whereas in Fig. 2 the planes are shown as covering the said frame-work, the same being dotted therein and the upward curvature, previously mentioned, does not show. On the other side, the wing 6 is supported by a transverse bar 42, extending oute air outward. These two.

ward from the end of the bar 30, and connected by a curved bar 43 with the front end of the bar 30. This wing has a straight bar 44, and a curved bar 45 similar to the other wing, whereby it is given a dished form.

The wing extension 9 is formed by a rearwardly extending bar 46 from the outer end' 'of the cross bar 37, and a diagonal bar 48 running from the inner end of the bar 37 to the rear of the bar 46; hence being triangular in shape. On the other side the wing 10 is formed by a longitudinal bar 49 and a diagonal bar 50 similar to the extension 9. These wings swing on the axis of the bars 37 and 42. They are preferably supported to be practically stationary relative to the frame at their diagonal bars 48 and 50,

.nected with the side wings by rods 53 and 54, respectively. A gear 55 meshes with the rack bar 51, which gear is engaged by a smaller gear 56 on a post 57. turnlng in a support 58 on the frame; the post being controlled by. a hand wheel 59. By this means the rack is reciprocated and the rods and 54 will serve to depress one wing as the other is elevated as indicated in Fig. 5. The shifting of these wings will cause the rear bars 37 and 42 of the wings to swing up and down. But as the rear members 48 and 50 of the wings are held substantially stationary by braces 60 and 61, extending from the lower portion of the frame to. the bars 48 and 50, the wing extensions will practically swing on their bars 48 and 50 as axes, and will change their angle relative to the wings, from one side to the other, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The rear members 48 and 50 are hingedly mounted to the supports 60 and 61 as indicated in Fig. 1 at a and b, and while the said members 48 and 50 form substantially the axes of the movement they are more orless resiliently held by the supporting members 60 and 61,

whereby the swinging up and down of the Y thus allowing a slight compensation for the shortening or extending of the angle formed between members '50, 48, and members 30, 31, respectively. Additional steadying means are also provided for the wing members, shown in the form of a cable 62, extending from the wing 5 around pulley 63, and connected to a chain 65 passing around in the outline of a keystone, but having a semi-circular extension 71 at the rear. This plane is located above the middle portion of the car, and extends ver only a small portion of the side wings. This top plane is supported to be adjusted or shifted on a horizontal transverse axis, so that it will meet the air as the craft is propelled forward, at different angles, and its angle relative to that of the wings can be varied. This top plane 14 is preferably curved transversely as indicated in Fig. 1. On each side of this top plane at its lower portion,

is secured an arc shaped brace 72, that is pivoted to a V-shaped standard 73, extending upwardly from the body frame on each Side. A pivot 74 at the top of the frame connects, these braces on each side, whereby the top frame can be tilted on a horizontal axis. If desired, this top plane may be made double and is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 provided with a second plane 13, attached to and above the top plane 14 and spaced apart therefrom. Toswing the top plane on its axis, a cable 76 runs from the rear of the plane down around the pulley 77 and then is secured to a lever 7 8 pivoted adjacent the seat 19 of the operator. At the front a cable 7 9 fast to the top plane, runs down around the guide pulley 80 and then extends rearward to have its extremities secured to the lever 7 8., It will be understood that swinging this lever will pull down on one cable and at the same time release the other cable, permitting the tilting of the top plane.

In Figs. 1316 is shown another form of the top plane. This member is shown as comprising a curved forward portion 81 having at the rear a curved portion in the form of a conical segment 82 whose apex would be forward of the plane, and the rear of this conical portion is rounded off as shown in Fig. 13. On each side of the plane port-ion 81 is a flat portion, 83 and 84, and between'the rear of these flat portions and the .sides of the conical portion 82 are inclined flat portions 85 and 86'. Fig. .13 shows the position of this top plane relative to the ship, from which it will be-seen that about two-thirds of the wings are covered by this top plane, but that very little of the rear extensions of the wings are covered by the rear conical portion of the top plane. This plane is supported by frames 72 oneach side.

A fabric or other surface is stretched bemembers are inclined or depressed rearwardly, when the craft is driven forward by its propeller, the wings will strike the air at a slight angle of incidence that will tend to elevate the ship or propel it directly forward. The upward or downward advanced movement of the craft is controlled by adjusting the angle of the top plane whereby its angle of incidence is changed by the operator on the ship. The curved or dished shape of the wings, together with the action of the inclined planes extending downward from the axis of the wings has a kind of cushioning effect, tending to retain some of the air, rather than permit it to pass directly through or beyond the craft.

YVhen it is desired to steeif the ship to either side, the wheel is turned, and one wing will be depressed, while the other wing is elevated. This latter movement will also change the angle of-the wing extensions relative to the wings. The wing on the side that is elevated, thereby causing its extension or tail to be depressed, will have a greater retarding action on the air than the other side, whereby the ship will turn toward that side as long as this position is maintained. But this shifting of the wings will only affect the forward movement, and will not have any appreciable eflect on the sustaining or elevating function of the wings; for the reason thatthe same area of plane surface is effective against the falling movement of the ship through the air. Furthermore, these wings will have the effect of causing the ship to sail on an even keel and prevent tipping sidewise through theair.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair of wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from the said axis, and controlling means on the frame connected with the wing members for shifting them up and down, each of the wings having an extension at the rear hinged to swing on a transverse axis.

9. In an airship, the combination of a hedv frame, a pair of dished wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from the said axis, controlling means on the frame connected with wing members for shifting body frame, a pair of wingmembers on each side of the body hinged thereto on a longitudinal axis inclined downward to the rear, and projecting outward from the axis, and controlling means on the frame connected with the wing members for swinging .them up and down, each of the wings havdown, each of the wings having an extension at the rear hinged to swing on a transverse axis, with the rear edge of the extension running diagonally outward from the inner end of the axis.

p 5. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair of wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from the said axis, and controlling' means on the frame connected with the wing members for swinging them up and down, each of the wings having an extension at the rear hinged to swing-on a transverse axis, said extensions being triangular with one straight side extending longitudinally rearward from the outer portion of the wing member with the rear edge of the extension running diagonally out- Ward from the inner end of the axis, and means for swinging it-he extension planes.

6. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, apair of wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from the said axis, and controlling means on the frame connected with the wing members for swinging themup and down, each of the wings having an extension at the rear hinged to swing on a transverse axis, said extensions being triangular with one straight side extending longitudinally rearward from the outer portion of the wing member with the rear edge of the ex- -tens1on running on a transverse axis, a,

brace connected with the frame and with the extension planes whereby the swinging of the side wing will shift the pivotal axis of the extension planes and change their angle relative to the side wings.

7. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair ofwing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longit-udinally therefrom, and projecting outward from the wing members for shifting them up and down, each of the wings having an extension at the rear hinged to swing on a transverse axis, and a brace connected with the frame and with the extension planes whereby the swinging. of the side wmgs will shift the pivotal axis of the extension planes and change their angle relative to the side wings.

8. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair of wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from said axis, controlling means on the frame connected with the wing members for swinging them up and down, and a plane connected with the frame member and supported at the middle portion of the car above the said wings, the latter plane having its rear portion curved in the form of a conical segment, with the apex forward and having at each side plane portions.

9. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair of wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from the said axis, controlling, means on the frame connected with the wing members for swinging them up and down, a plane connected with the frame member and supported at the middle portion of the car above the said wings, the said top plane having its rear portion curved in the form of a conical segment, with the apex forward, and having at each side plane pprtions at the front lying in'substantially the same plane, and a small plane on each side extending downward from said planes to said conical segment. I r

10. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair of wing members on each side of the body'hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and projecting outward from the said axis, extension members" thereon, controlling means on the frame connected with the wing members for shifting them up and down, said connec tions being arranged to shift one wing frame and with the extension planes whereby the swinging of the side wings will shift the pivotal axis of the extension planes and change their angle relative to the side wings. i

11. In an airship, the combination of a body frame, a pair of wing members on each side of the body hinged thereto on an axis extending longitudinally, and project ing outwardfrom the said axis, controlling means on the frame connected with the wing members for swinging them up and down,

'each of the wings having an extension at the rear hinged to swing on a transverse axis, said extensions being triangular with one straight side extending longitudinally p rearward from the outer portion of the wing member with the rear edge of the exing its rear portion curved in the form of a tension running diagonally outward from conical segment with the apex forward and the inner end of the axis, means for swinghaving at each side plane portions.

ing the extension planes, and a plane conv JULIUS BROWN. 5 nected with the framemember and sup- Witnesses:

ported at the middle portion of the car FRED. J. DOLE,

above the said wings, the latter plane hav- W. H. REID. 

